MUMBAI: Railways have viewed the unfortunate incident of rolling down of Ahmedabad – Puri Express in Sambalpur Division of East Coast Railway very seriously and appropriate action has been initiated to track the core cause of this untoward episode.

Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman, Railway Board expressed his regret and in a Press Statement issued on the incident stated that, this incident of rolling down of Ahmedabad – Puri express at Titlagarh is an isolated incident of staff negligence that is sincerely regretted by the Railways. While the concerned staff has been suspended and a high level enquiry has also been ordered, the railways remains committed to ensuring highest levels of safety in train operations. Railways have also ordered a one month long drive over the entire network for sensitizing the staff regarding the precautions to be taken to prevent such incidents. He further stated that, passenger safety followed by passenger comfort remains the highest priority of Indian Railways.

According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the subject of safety is continuously being monitored at the highest levels in the Railway Board, with the monitoring being done daily at the level of the Chairman, Railway Board.